Brachylagus idahoensis (Merriam, 1891) 



Pygmy Rabbit 



Lagomorpha: Leporidae 



Global Rank: G4; State Rank: S2S3 



DESCRIPTION: The Pygmy Rabbit is smaller than any other North American leporid (averaging about 

 400-450 grams), with very short hind legs and short rounded ears. The tail is small and inconspicuous with 

 a buff-colored underside, rather than white as in cottontails (Sylvilagus). The upper parts are gray, with 

 cinnamon buff on the nape and anterior surfaces of the legs. The skull is small, with a relatively large brain- 

 case and auditory bullae. Supraorbital processes are long compared with those of members in the genus 

 Sylvilagus. Postorbital extensions of the supraorbitals are broadest distally, instead of tapering to a blunt 

 end as in Sylvilagus. Molariform teeth are relatively small. The anterior surface of the first upper molari- 

 form tooth possesses but a single re-entrant angle while those of Sylvilagus have two or three re-entrant 

 angles. The two pair of unpigmented incisors distinguish lagomorph skulls from all rodents. 



DISTRIBUTION: The geographic range of the Pygmy Rabbit includes most of the Great Basin in eastern 

 California and Oregon, northern Nevada, western Utah, southern Idaho, isolated populations in southeast- 

 em Washington and southwestern Wyoming, and extends into southwestern Montana. In Montana the 

 Pygmy Rabbit occurs throughout Beaverhead (many locations), extreme southern Deer Lodge ( 1 location), 

 and extreme southwestern Madison (2 locations) counties, with a questionable 1 937 record from Ravalli 

 County. There are only three records from the Centennial Valley, one of which (in 1 997) was from the 

 sandhills area 



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